Sifter-closure for container selectively attachable thereto in dispensing or nondispensing position



Sept. 11, 1951 s. F. s. JONES 7,

I SIFTER-CLOSURE FOR CONTAINER SELECTIVELY ATTACHABLE THERE-TO IN DISPENSING OR NONDI'SPENSING POSITION Filed Dec. 12, 1946 7i INVENTOR.

A T TOENEYS Patented Sept. 11, 1951 SIFTER-CLOSURE FOR TIVELY ATTACHABLE THERETO IN DIS- PENSING OR NONDISPENSING POSITION Stanley F. S. Jones, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, assignor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application December 12, 1946, Serial No. 715,722

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to a container or can having a cover which is transposable by removal and replacement into different positions for sealing the can and for bringing sifter holes into register for siftin the contents of the can andhas particular reference to elements for insuring proper register of the sifter holes for a sifting operation and for insuring sifter-proof sealing between the can and the cover when the sifter holes are out of register.

An object of the invention is the provision of a sifter top can having a transposable cover wherein proper alignment of sifter holes in the cover and in thecan may be rapidly and easily effected by a mere removal and replacement of the cover.

Another objectis the provision of such a can wherein locating elements formed in the cover and in the can insure the proper alignment of the sifter holes upon placement of the cover and without any further adjustment.

Another object is the provision of such a can wherein a sifter-proofseal is effected between the cover and the can when the cover is in can sealing position, so that the content of the can is prevented from sifting out through the joint between the can and the cover.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which,

taken .in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sifter top can embodying the instant invention;

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the can shown in Fig. 1, with the cover of the can disposed in spaced relation to the can top and with the lower portion of the can being broken away; and

Figs. 3, 4 and are enlarged sectional views taken substantially along the planes indicated by the lines 33, 44 in Fig. 1, Fig. 5 being a View similar to Fig. 4 with the cover in a different position.

As a preferred embodiment of the invention the drawings illustrate a well known cylindrical type of sheet metal sifter can for spice or condiments. The can comprises a tubular body I l with a closed bottom and having a top or friction ring (2. Both bottom and top are permanently secured to the body in suitable seams I3.

The top or friction ring l2 preferably is of the countersunk type having a flat panel wall l4 in- CONTAINER SELEC- wardly of the seam [3. The panel wall is formed with a slightly raised continuous shoulder l5 having a depending flange [6 which defines a cylindrical friction seat for a removable closure member or friction cover iii. The depending flange l6 merges into two oppositely disposed substantially horizontal and spaced shelves or plate elements 2 I, 22 which between them set off a narrow rectangular slot or dispensing opening '23 through which the contents of the can may be dispensed in bulk form when the cover is removed.

The dispensing opening 23 preferably extends across the can. top from one side of the flange l6 to its opposite side. The shelf 21 is imperforate while the shelf 22 is formed with a group of sifter perforations or holes 25. The inner edges of the shelves or plate elements are curled downwardly as best shown in Fig. 4. This provides smooth curved auxiliary friction seats 26.

The friction cover l8 preferably is circular and is formed with a horizontal bottom panel 3| which merges, at its outer periphery, into a substantially vertical upright friction wall 32. This friction wall is adapted to fit tightly within the friction seat provided by the depending flange 16 of the friction ring l2 when the cover is in place on the can. The top edge of the friction wall 32 is bent outwardly and thence downwardly and back on itself and thus provides a smooth hem 33 which may be utilized as a gripping or hand hold element when applying the cover to the can or as a prying element when removing it.

The bottom panel 3| of the cover I8 is formed with arectangular shaped depressed or countersunk locating member or boss 35 which extends completely across the cover from one side of its upright wall 32 to the opposite side. The locating member 35 is formed with a curved bottom wall 36 which at its ends merges into short extensions 31 of the upright wall 32 (see Fig. 3). Along its sides, the curved bottom wall 36 merges into upright wall sections 38 which in turn merge into the bottom panel 3! of the cover.

When the cover is in place on the can, the locating member or element 35 extends down into the dispensing opening 23 of the friction ring l2, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The extensions 31 of the upright wall 32 of the cover at the ends of the locating member engage tightly against the flange l6 of the friction ring l2 while the side or upright wall sections 38 of the locating member engage tightly against the smooth friction seats 26 of the ring. In this manner a double friction seal is provided for the cover, one seal being ef-.

fected between the upright wall 32 of the cover and the flange 16 of the ring, and the other or auxiliary seal being effected between the locating member and the ring.

Provision is made for utilizing the cover I8 as a sifter top, as hereinbefore mentioned. For this purpose the-bottom panel 3| of the cover on one side of the locatin member 35, is cut through with sifter perforations or holes 39 (Figs. 2 and 4). This group of holes is similar to the group of holes 25 in the friction ring plate shelf 22, the holes in the two groups havingthe sameplace arrangement. The opposite side of the bottom panel 3! of the cover is imperforate.

In one position of the cover IS on its friction seat flange [6, as shown in Fig. 5, the sifter-holes 39 of the cover are adjacenhtheirnperforate shelf 2! of the friction ring [2. In this position the imperforate portion of the cover is adjacent the perforated shelf 22 having the sifter holes 25. In this positionof the cover the can is effectively sealed since both the dispensing opening 23 .and the sifter holes 25 in the ring are closed or blocked oil andescape of the contents ofthecan is prevented. The double friction seats .15, .26 of the ring furthermor prevent siftin through these joints .of anyof the contents as will be apparent.

In another vpositionof the cover 18, the sifter holes 39 f the cover are brought into register with-thesifterholes25 in the shelf 22 of the-friction ring [2. The aligned sifter holes 25, 39-provide for communicationwith the interior of the can and its contents may be freely dispensed through these perforations. This bringing of the sifter holes into register is effected by merely removing the cover from its sealing position. Then it i -turned around to bring its sifter holes on the opposite side whereupon the cover is again ct onall appl e Inorder to replace the cover in an easy manner, the locating element 35 is inserted in the dispensin O ening 23 of the ring [2. The locating element made deep enough so that it will enter the, dispensing opening before any contact is made of the-cover upright wall 32 with the seat flange [6. ,This entry of the locating element into the p sin qnen eal t e ift holes 39 0f the cover ith the sifter holes 25in the ring and thus provides for ,exact ,register of these holes when the co e i e s down ti h y onto its seat flange J15. In this mannerthe locating elemen ;;3. s r as a fool-proof ui e f r prop and-easily replacingz the cover in asifter position orina sealingposition on the can.

When it is desired to dispense the.conten ts of the ,can'in bulk-form, it is merely .necessary to remove the .cover and leave it off. Thisexposes the dispensing .opening '23 and permits the insertion of ;a spoon or other tool into thecan for removal of .its contents.

It .is thought that -the-.invention and many of its attendantladvantageswill:be understood from the foregoing description, and it will beapparent that .variouschanges may be made in the form, constructionand.arrangement of the parts without departing from .the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing .all of its material .advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely. a preferred embodiment thereof.

-I claim:

1. Acontainer having-an elongated dispensing opening disposed between two plateelements for bulk removal .of ;-the :contents of the container,

said container having a plurality of sifter holes in one of said plate elements adjacent said dispensing opening for sifting the contents of the container and having smooth sealing edges adjacent said dispensing opening, a cover having a panel wall for sealing engagement with said plate elements, a corresponding plurality of sifter holes therein, said cover being adapted for removal and replacement into diiferent positions on said container with its panel wall engaging said plate elements, inone such position the sifter holes of the cover beingoutof register with the sifter holes of the container for closing the container and in an- ..other position withthe sifter holes of both parts inregisterand providing communication with the interior of the container for sifting its contents, and an elongated countersunk locating member formed in said cover and insertable into the dispensingopening in said container in tight fitting engagement with the sealing edges adjacent said isp n ing op ning .for l ating an iinsurinereeister o saigisifie iholes for a si tin oper tion.

2- .A conta ne ha in anelon ed d ensin p ni g w t pa all l l n s des :ior bulk moval of t ecQn en sQ t e c nta n sa d co aine av n a nliiral t p si ter ho slthe n ad a ent one f the l ne si es s id dispens openin fo s t n /t e conten s o the c nta n air nn sea n-sai nqntai e nnd su o d ng a d dispensing p eandsa d if e holes a ov r avin a c r es ndin plu al ty.o sifterho esl sated on on s d of i cente sa neve bei adapte for remova and re c m nt n o two fle en p i ns w i e sea e with its sifter o es Qnc f rent i es o sa dd sne si e one ing in the friction seat of said container, ,inone such position the sifter holes of thelcovervgbeing out of registerwith .the sifter holes of the container for elosing the containerand in theother position with the sifter holes of both parts in register and proyiding communication with the interiorof the container for sifting itscontents, and elongated locating means with parallel long sides in saidcover and insertable into the-dispensin opening in .said container for locating the. cover in its differentpositions.

3. A container having a friction .seat therein, a countersunkimperforateplate. element disposed within said friction seat, a countersunk perforated plateelementzhaving a group ofsifter holes therein alsodisposed within said friction seat and located opposite said .imperforate plate element, said plate elements setting off between them an elongated dispensing ,epening -;for .bulk removal of the contents from saidcontainer, a cover'having a frictionwall for engagement with said friction seat and abpttompanel wall for sealingeneasement w th saidplate l ments nd a gr p. of sifterholes insaid panel wall, saidcover being a a t d fo r moval and r placement into ,different positions on the friction seat of said container, in one such position thesifterholes of the cover being out of register with the sifter holes'of said perforated iplate element for closing the..container .and inanother position with the sifter holes of both parts in register and-pro.- viding communication with the interior of the containerfor dispensing itscontentsand anelongated countersunk locating member formed in said cover and insertable into the dispensing opening in said container and in sealing engagement betweensaid plateelements and the .cover panel wall for locating the cover in .the desired position.

A. .A containerhaving a cylindrical friction-wall seat, a shelf disposed at the base of said friction wall seat and cut through by a non-circular dispensing opening, said shelf having a plurality of sifter holes located inside of said seat for sifter dispensing of the contents of the container, a cover having a cylindrical friction wall for engagement with the cylindrical friction seat of said container and having a corresponding plurality of sifter holes, said cover being adapted for removal and for frictional replacement into different positions on the container, and non-circular locating means formed in the cover and selectively fitting inside of said dispensing opening for locating the cover in a replaced position either to close the container against sifting of its contents or to provide for sifting dispensing.

5. A container having a symmetrical non-circular dispensing opening formed in a wall thereof, sifter perforations in said wall adjacent one side of said opening, a cover for said container having a panel wall for close engagement with said container wall said cover having a countersunk locating boss in shape substantially the counterpart of said container dispensing opening for closely fitting within the opening in different closure positions, and sifter perforations in said cover panel wall at one side of said countersunk boss for registering with the container wall perforations when the cover is in one of its closure positions said cover perforations being out of register with the container perforations and located directly over an imperforated portion of said container wall in another of its closure positions for closing the container.

6. A container having an elongated dispensing opening and a plurality of sifter holes located on one side of said dispensing opening, a sealing element surrounding said opening and said sifter holes, a cover having a sealing element engageable with said container sealing element, said cover also having a plurality of sifter holes and being adapted for removal and replacement into different positions on said container, inone such position the sifter holes of said cover being out of register with the sifter holes of said container for closing said container and in another position with the sifter holes or both parts in register and providing communication with the interior of the container for sifter dispensing of its contents, a boss formed in said cover for selective engagement within said elongated dispensing opening with the sealing elements of said cover and container in sealing engagement, said boss sealing said dispensing opening and preventing escape of the contents of said container through the dispensing opening when said cover is in either sifting or closing position on said container.

STANLEY F. S. JONES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,092,138 Punte Sept. '7, 1937 2,108,045 Dirker Feb. 15, 1938 2,190,676 Perry Feb. 20, 1940 

